Experience

Here, when you wake up, you will be surrounded by the chirping of happy birds and the lapping of the waves. For a very soft start to the day, the entertainment staff hold pilates classes and half-hour aquagym sessions to warm up your muscles and get your circulation going, ready for the day ahead.

Let yourself be tempted by our photo workshops, where you will learn how to look at the landscape, the starry sky and the creature-laden sea bed with a new perspective. Break out of your routine by taking a walk in search of the perfect place or the ideal light to immortalise your best shots.

Imagine a day of total relaxation spent marvelling at the islands of the archipelago that we overlook. The wonderful section of sea encompassed by our panorama begins with that renowned slice of marine paradise where dolphins and whales swim about searching for plankton, giving those lucky enough to witness them a show that will never be forgotten. You can take out one of our little dinghies and become captain for a day, or plump for the simpler option of being a passenger on larger boats skippered by old sea dogs who’ll do all the hard work while you sit back and admire the beauty of nature. Another alternative is to take a sail boat and let yourself be pushed along by the wind.

This stretch of land, lapped by the sea, will surprise you day after day. Exploring the coastline in a canoe or on an SUP, you will stumble across little hidden coves, with natural swimming pools awaiting discovery by those who follow the reflections of the light as they swim.

Everyone can experience the emotions of the ever-changing wind and sea. And while the sheltered inlets are heavenly for those who want to lie back and top up their tans, the constant breeze is perfect for the sailors, windsurfers and kitesurfers riding the waves – this really is the best place in the world to unlock the secrets of these water sports.

Sun and salt water are the perfect combination for a holiday at the Isola dei Gabbiani, because they are synonymous with wellbeing. Here, they keep you company every day, from dawn, as you run along the water’s edge amid amber reflections, until dusk, when the sky is tinted purple and you can enjoy a game of beach volleyball with your neighbours, have a kick-about on the sand or get stuck into a beach tennis mini-tournament with friends old and new. Here, it’s so easy to socialise – a bit like the way children do while they’re building sand castles. The entertainment staff will deal with the small matter of keeping your children happy by organising fun outdoor games and intriguing creative workshops.

The archipelago that links Sardinia with Corsica, with its seven main islands and 40+ islets, is certainly worth spending a day exploring. Everyone chooses their own rhythm – the slow pace of the sail boat or the speed of the dinghy. In either case, you will have access to wonderful perspectives on islands such as Spargi, Budelli and Caprera. In between dives into the most attractive waters imaginable, you will have great fun trying to identify which animals the rocks, shaped over millennia by wind and water, have ended up by pure chance resembling. The whale-watching tours are a must – they take you on the whale routes, where long-cherished dreams come true as you sit back and observe these magical creatures at play.

Attractive and fascinating, Sardinia encompasses a stunning variety of landscapes. It looks for all the world like a painting that has come to life, in which the enchanting sea cradles jewelled islands watched over by rocky sentinels. Arriving in the Gallura area, you will see the lush cork-oak forests merge into undulating vineyards, while the mountains are blown with winds at once musical and silent. Once here, you can spend innumerable hours discovering the multitude of landscapes on offer: from the lunar, granite monoliths of the northern part of the island and the canyons of the River Liscia to the woodlands of Mediterranean maquis and the untainted dunes.

To fill your days with fun and amazement, you can set out to discover the numerous rock statues to be found here. It is as if time has used a chisel to sculpt the imposing rock “bear” that gives its name to Capo d’Orso, which looks out to sea just 3 miles from the town of Palau. This stone giant is very much worth a visit while you are exploring the island’s coves and beaches.

If you want to discover the heart of Sardinia and to enjoy an unforgettable adventure, choose to come during the event entitled “I colori della Sardegna” (The Colours of Sardinia). If your schedule brings you here outwith those dates, don't worry – we can accompany you directly through the gorges of the Supramonte area or on a visit to the nuragic village of Tiscali, in the valley of Lanaittu. If you want to go off the beaten track, you can explore an array of alternative, unusual routes that unite entertainment and culture and take in Domus de Janas (fairy houses), mines, caves, shepherds and panoramas the like of which you have never seen before.

When you want to return for a moment to the ‘real’ world, away from the enchantment of the Isola dei Gabbiani, you can take a stroll through the market stalls of Palau. Alternatively, you can book seats at any of the cultural events organised by the highly pro-active local tourist board, which include everything from musical performances to plays, films and other types of events.

For the benefit of our guests, we put on a range of entertainment including show cooking sessions, during which a chef reels off an unusual local recipe, revealing a few traditional secrets along the way, while preparing the delicious dish in question before your very eyes.

After a holiday in Sardinia, you’ll return home filled with emotions that, over time, will turn into indelible memories. While nature offers the sound of the wind, the colour of the sea, the taste of the salt water, the fragrance of the juniper and the feel of the super-soft sand, here at the Isola dei Gabbiani we do our level best to stimulate your five senses at the dinner table by allowing you to get to know some of the typical dishes of the Sardinian tradition. You can spend delightful evenings in pleasant company, tasting everything from cheese, meat and roast fish to bread with an ancient flavour and sweets redolent of bitter honey. Sardinian cuisine is immensely multi-faceted, and every dish can be associated with a prized wine. In this part of Sardinia, it really is essential to sample a glass of fresh white Vermentino wine.